Shoe-lace and tongue-stay.



PATENTED FEB. 4, 1Q08.

H. DO-WNBR. SHOEV'LAGB AND TONGUE STAY.

APPLICATION FILED IIIB. 5. 1907.

r: mvems PETERS C0,, WASHINGTON, n cy PATENT UFFICE.

HUNTINGTON DOWNER, OF HAYBUBN, IDAHO.

SHOE-LACE AND TONGUE-STAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Application filed February 5, 1907. Serial No. 355,905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUNTINGTON DOWNER, residing at Hayburn, in the State of Idaho, have invented a new and Improved Shoe- Lace and Tongue-Stay, of which the following is a specification.

My invention provides a simple, inexpensive and easily applied device, adapted to be attached to the-tongue or flap member of the shoe, and having such construction whereby the knot of the laces can be firmly and neatly held and at the same time will hold the tongue from slipping to one side or the other and from accidental displacement and whereby the ends of the laces will be neatly sustained at the desired position on the foot.

In its more subordinate features, my invention consists in certain details of construction and arrangement of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully described, s eci'lically pointed out in the claims and il ustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which, I

Figure 1, is a perspective View of a shoe with my improvement attached and adjusted for holding the lace and the tongue. Fig. 2, is a view which illustrates the position of the cap member while tying the knot in the lace ends. Fig. 3, is a lan view of the device on an enlarged sca c. Fig. 4, is a longitudinal section thereof, showing the cap closed and the lace knot held thereby. Fig. 5, is a similar view showing-the cap raised. Fig. 6, is a transverse section on the line 6 -6 on Fig. 3. Fig. 7, is a perspective view of the several parts of the device.

In the practical application of my invention, the same in its generic construction, may be of different specific shapes, but I prefer to arrange the same as shown in the drawings, in which the main or body portion a, is in the nature of a rectangular shaped member, preferably stamped up of spring steel, and which is secured at one end by rivets or stitching to the shoe tongueT as clearly shown. This plate is cut with an opening a, the edge of which is turned up as at a to form flange vertical to the body a, in practice, one-eighth of an inch high, and which forms the retaining flange over which the ends of the shoe laces are passed during the act of tying the knot.

The opening a, as will be noticed, has a substantially semi-circular shape and at the base or transverse wall thereof the plate a, is

I formed with two oppositely disposed longitudinal upturned ears e@ that form the journals for the spring clasp or cap member B, the peculiar construction and its cooperation with the body member a is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by reference to which it will be noticed the member B comprises a body portion having substantially the shape of the slot in the member a and having its curved edges formed with pendent flanges 1) approximately one-eighth of an inch deep, and so formed that when the clasp member B is closed the said flanges will close over the flange (t as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The clasp B has upwardly extended ears b b that form the journals for the said member B which lap the ears 6 on the plate a to receive the rivet pintles f-f and the said ears 5 If have cam portions 5 b that engage spring tongues a a formed in the bottom plate a in such manner that when the clasp member is turned down in the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. 5 the said member B will be closed and held closed by pressure and when moved back to the vertical or open position it will be spring held to such position.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the complete structure and the manner in which my improvement is used will be readily understood. In tying the laces, the ends are drawn over the flange on the member a tightened, and the knot tied at a point over the base of the slot in the member a and when tied, the said knot is turned into the said slot with the ends of the laces extended laterally after which the clasp B is snapped down over the knot, which holds the knot securely pressed in the opening, the body of the member being convexed or cup shaped as at If to the more securely hold the knot in place. To untie the knot, access thereto is readily had by pressing up the member B, to the position shown in Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with a plate having an opening extending from one end thereof, a flange surrounding a portion of the said opening, said plate extending at the sides laterally of the flange and having that end adjacent the opening therein slitted to form spring tongues and having ears e adjacent the tongues and in line With the flange ing in the said opposing plate, all being a1- thereof, a elosiilirpl plate having ears 6 for 00- ranged substantially as shown and described. operating Wit t e ears 6, said ears 6 having l cam portion 6 for coacting with the spring HUNTINGTON DOWNER 5 tongues a said plate B having a flange 1) to Witnesses:

fit over the flange on the op osing plate and J. V. MORSARD, having a solid portion 6 to t over the open- I A. 0. BEST. 

